Jean Beliveau was one of the all-time classiest players in the NHL, both on the ice and off. He made his career as a strong skater and was all but impossible to slow down. Incredibly, he played on 10 Stanley Cup-winning teams as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

Born in Trois Rivieres, Quebec, Beliveau first played organized hockey in Victoriaville, Quebec. He later played junior as a member of the Quebec Citadelles and senior hockey for the Quebec Aces. The NHL Canadiens wanted the young Beliveau in their lineup, but he wasn't all that eager to play for them. But the Canadiens owned his rights, so he couldn't play for another professional team unless Montreal traded him. Since the Aces were an amateur team, there was no conflict with his staying there. Finally, Montreal purchased the entire Quebec Senior Hockey League, turned it professional and added Jean Beliveau to their roster. Without much choice in the matter, Beliveau signed on with the Canadiens in 1953 for a then unheard-of $100,000 contract over five years.

After playing a total of five regular season games in 1950-51 and 1952-53, he played another 18 seasons with Montreal, and in 10 of those he led the team as their captain. Beliveau made the NHL All-Star Team ten times, was the leading scorer of all-time for Montreal as well as the all-time leading scorer in Stanley Cup history. When he retired from the game, he said, "I made up my mind to offer my place to a younger player." He added: "It's hard, but I will play no more. I only hope that I have made a contribution to a great game. Hockey has been my life since the day my father gave me a pair of skates when I was five years old." In reverence to all that Beliveau gave to hockey, the Canadiens held Jean Beliveau Night at the Montreal Forum in March 1971. They also established the Jean Beliveau Fund for underprivileged children. For everyone who knew him, the fund was a very fitting way to say farewell to Beliveau, as he was considered by many to be a true role model for kids. Clarence Campbell, president of the NHL, said, "Any parent could use Jean Beliveau as a pattern or role model. He provides hockey with a magnificent image. I couldn't speak more highly of anyone who has ever been associated with our game than I do of Jean."

Jean Beliveau played 1,125 regular season NHL games, recording 507 goals and 1,219 points. He was a ten-time All-Star, led the league in scoring in 1955-56 and was the NHL's Hart Trophy recipient as the most valuable player in 1955-56 and 1963-64. On his way to the Stanley Cup, Jean was the inaugural winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in 1965.

After retiring as a player, Beliveau served as a team executive for the Canadiens and official spokesperson for the club. Some observers noted that he'd been filling that latter position unofficially for years anyway. In 1972, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and in 1981, he was named to the Selection Committee of the Hall of Fame. Beliveau received an honorary degree in physical education from the University of Moncton, New Brunswick. He was also president of Jean Beliveau, Inc., a thriving business with varied interests in restaurants, real estate and other concerns.

Beliveau worked for the Canadiens in public relations until 1993 as Senior Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, but he maintained ambassadorial prestige with the team until his death on December 2, 2014. In 1994, he became the only NHL player to be offered the position of Governor General of Canada, but turned it down because the job would have taken too much time away from his family. Four years later, Romeo Leblanc, the Governor General, made Beliveau a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour.